| Far Right Seeks Gains in Vienna Poll Voters in the Austrian capital cast ballots in local elections that could bring gains for the far-right following a campaign laced with anti-Islamic rhetoric. online.wsj.com |
Joel Burns tells gay teenagers of Fort Worth: 'Stick around, it gets better' Texas councilman makes heart-wrenching plea for young people not to cave in to bullying about their sexualityCouncilman Joel Burns is not a household name in the US, nor in Texas. Maybe not even in his constituency of Fort Worth. But a highly personal and emotional speech he made urging gay teenagers to resist the pressures of bullying will hopefully see his name and message enter the common consciousness.At a council meeting on Tuesday, Burns used his spot to address the bullying of gay teenagers, citing a number of victims who have killed themselves, including Tyler Clementi. After relaying the tragic stories of a number of young male suicides, he began telling his own story as a 13-year-old who felt "ashamed, humiliated and confused" after being taunted by bullies.He went on to make a deeply moving plea to gay teenagers who are the victims of bullying not to give up on life, using his own experience as he got older – his marriage to another man he loves and acceptance from his "tough cowboy" dad – as an example."Yes high school was difficult, coming out was painful but life got so much better for me," he said. "Things will get easier. Please stick around to make those happy moments for yourself."But written words do not do it justice; watch the video.Gay rightsUnited StatesHaroon Siddiqueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
US man 'urged South Park attack' A US man pleads guilty to supporting a Somali Islamist militant group and encouraging violence against the writers of cartoon show South Park. bbc.co.uk |
US finance chief 'upbeat on yuan' US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says he believes China is now "committed" to allowing the yuan to go up in value. bbc.co.uk |
Egypt's Opposition Sees Heavy Poll Losses Egypt's largest opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, said it failed to win a single seat in parliamentary elections, joining rights groups in denouncing what they described as massive and systemic fraud. online.wsj.com |